upfront: Blank Cheque

The city's top bureaucrats won't be needing to buy the cheaper brand of Bordeaux for dinner, judging from salary figures released last week. CAO Mike Garrett clocked in at $237,801, while chief bean-counter Wanda Liczyk pocketed $190,341. Honchos in social services didn't do badly either. Mary Kudrac, manager for dental and oral health, got $182,221, which should make the disadvantaged folk whose dental services are about to be cut off feel better. And to think the brains behind the entire operation, the mayor's former chief of staff, Rod Phillips, was only worth $135,179. No wonder he left.